Fork attachment for a loader bucket

ABSTRACT

A fork attachment for a loader bucket comprising a plurality of spaced apart teeth having a transverse plate means secured thereto rearwardly of the forward ends thereof. The plate means includes a rearwardly extending plate portion which is spaced above the teeth. An elongated angle member is secured to the rearward ends of the teeth and has a pair of chain tightener elements secured thereto. The attachment is secured to the loader bucket by driving the loader forwardly so that the leading edge of the bucket bottom is received beneath the plate portion to secure the forward end of the bucket to the attachment. The chain tightener elements are then secured to the upper rearward portion of the loader bucket to secure the rearward end of the attachment to the bucket. Material handling devices such as front-end loaders, tractor loaders, etc., generally have a pair of pivotal booms provided thereon to which various attachments are secured. Many tractor loaders are used by ranchers and farmers to handle material such as dirt, gravel, etc. A bucket attachment is secured to the booms when the loader is being used for dirt, gravel, and similar materials. It is necessary to replace the bucket attachment with a fork attachment when materials such as manure, ensilage and the like are going to be handled since the conventional bucket attachment cannot adequately handle the material. The replacement of the fork attachment for the bucket attachment is time consuming and requires that a separate fork attachment be purchased even though the fork and bucket attachments are somewhat similar in design.

United States Patent Westendorf [541 FORK ATTACHMENT FOR A LOADER BUCKET [72] Inventor: Walter J. Westendorf, Smithland,

Hensley ....37/142 R 3,349,933 10/1967 Simpson et al. ....37/l42 R 2,612,280 9/1952 Stueland ..2l4/145 2,809,759 10/1957 Manker ..214/620 2,838,856 6/1958 Buisse .214/145 X 3,180,513 4/1965 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A fork attachment for a loader bucket comprising a plurality of spaced apart teeth having a transverse plate means secured thereto rearwardly of the forward Vander Wal ..214/620 ends thereof. The plate means includes a rearwardly extending plate portion which is spaced above the teeth. An elongated angle member is secured to the rearwardends of the teeth and has a pair of chain tightener elements secured thereto. The attachment is secured to the loader bucket by driving the loader forwardly so that the leading edge of the bucket bottom is received beneath the plate portion to secure the forward end of thebucket to the attachment. The chain tightener elements are then secured to the upper rearward portion of the loader bucket to secure the rearward end of the attachment to the bucket.

Material handling devices such as front-end loaders, tractor loaders, etc., generally'have a pair of pivotal booms provided thereon to which various attachments are secured. Many tractor loaders are used byranchers and farmers to handle material such as dirt, gravel, etc. A bucket attachment is secured to the booms when the loader is being used for dirt, gravel, and similar materials. it is necessary to replace the bucket attachment with a fork attachment when materials such as manure, ensilage and the like are going to be handled since the conventional bucket attachment cannot adequately handle the material. The replacement of the fork attachment for the bucket attachment is time consuming and requires that a 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FORK ATTACHMENT FOR A LOADER BUCKET Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an attachment for a loader bucket and more specifically a fork attachment for a loader bucket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for a loader bucket which is conveniently and quickly secured to the loader bucket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for a loader bucket which is rigidly mountable on the bucket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for loader buckets which is economical.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for loader buckets which is self-cleaning.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for a loader bucket having means thereon for compensating for wear of the attachment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fork attachment for a loader bucket which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment and the loader bucket to which it is secured;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the attachment on a loader bucket;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the attachment. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the loader bucket with th attachment being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view seen on lines 6-6 of FIG.

The fork attachment of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 while the numeral 12 refers to a conventional loader bucket which is pivotally mounted on a boom means 14. The attachment 10 is ideally suited for tractor loaders, frontend loaders, etc. The tractor loader disclosed in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,324,954 is one type of loader device which is well suited for use with this attachment.

The bucket 12 comprises a bottom wall 16, side walls 18 and 20 and rear wall 22. Bottom wall.16 includes a leading edge 24 and a plurality of spaced apart runner bars 26 provided on its underside. Bucket 12 also includes a center stiffener rib means 28.

Attachment 10 comprises a plurality of spaced apart teeth 30 which are preferably constructed of one and one-quarter inch square axle steel. A transversely disposed plate means 32 is secured to the teeth 30 as seen in FIG. 1 rearwardly of the forward ends thereof and includes a rearwardly extending plate portion 34 which is spaced above the teeth 30 to define a channel area 36. An elongated angle member 38 is secured to the rearward ends of the teeth 30 by welding. A pair of connector means 40 and 40' are secured to angle member 30 adjacent the opposite ends thereof; Inasmuch as connector means 40 and 40' are identical, only connector means 40 will be described in detail with designating identical structure on connector means 40'. Connector means 40 comprises a chain 42 welded at one end to angle member 38 and having an adjustment bolt assembly 44 at its other end. A U- shaped bracket 46 is threadably adjustably secured at its base portion to bolt assembly 44. Bracket 46 is pivotally secured to lever 48 by pin 50. Lever 48 is pivotally connected to the lower end of clamp 52 by pin 54. Clamp 52 includes a hook portion 56 which is adapted to be extended over the upper end of rear wall 22. The relationship of bracket 46, pin 54, lever 48 and pin 50 is such that the lever 48 yieldably remains in a locked position commonly described as a toggle action.

A hook element 58 is secured to plate means adjacent opening 60 formed therein.-I-Iousing 62 extends over opening 60 and receives the forward end of stiffener rib means 28 to reinforce the plate means 32 in the vicinity of the opening 60. The hook element 58 provides a means for attaching a chair or the like thereto for removing the attachment from the loader if the attachment should become wedged thereon for some reason.

The attachment is mounted on the loader bucket by driving the loader forwardly with respect to the attachment which may be lying on the ground or other suitable supporting surface. The loader bucket is manipulated so that the leading edge 24 of bottom wall 16 is received in the channel area 36. Hook portions 56 and 56 of the connector means 40 and 40 are then placed over the upper portion of the rear wall 22. The levers 48 and 48' are then moved from their open position to their closed position which causes the chains 42 and 42' to pull the rearward ends of the teeth upwardly into engagement with the underside of the bottom wall 16. When the levers are in their locked position, the rearward ends of the teeth are prevented from undesirable movement so that a rigid connection is achieved between the teeth and the loader bucket. The

relationship between the leading edge 24 and the plate portion 34 is such that the leading edge 24 is wedged into the channel area 36 to prevent undesirable move ment of the teeth with respect to the loader bucket and to provide a rigid means of connecting the teeth to the forward end of the bucket. The teeth 30 engage the runner bars 26 to further provide a rigid connection between the loader bucket and the attachment 10. The adjustable bolt assemblies 44 and 44' can be adjusted to compensate for attachment wear so that the attachment will always be rigidly secured to the loader bucket. The set screws 64 and 66 may be threadably moved into engagement with the back of the bucket to compensate for wear on the components as required.

The attachment 10 of this invention is relatively inexpensive to build and permits a conventional loader bucket to be quickly and easily converted to a loader fork. The design of the attachment is such that the interior of the loader bucket remains clear of material upon the loader bucket being operated to its dumped position. The teeth 30 add additional strength to the loader bucket due to the relationship of the teeth 30 and the runner bars 26. Thus it can be seen that a novel fork attachment has been provided for use with a loader bucket which is quickly and easily attached to the loader bucket to permit the loader bucket to be used as a loader fork. Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

lclaim:

1. In combination with amaterial handling apparatus having a bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end,

a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said teeth for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship, a support means secured to said teeth rearwardly of the forward ends thereof and having means thereon adapted to removably receive the forward end of said bucket means, a portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support means limiting the rearward movement of the at tachment when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means comprising an elongated plate means secured to said teeth and having a rearwardly extending plate portion disposed above said teeth defining an elongated channel, the forward end of said bucket means being received in said channel.

2. In combination with a mater'ial'handling apparatus having a'bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end,

a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said teeth for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship, a support means secured to said teeth rearwardly of the forward ends thereof and having means thereon adapted to removably receive the forward end of said bucket means, a portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support means limiting the rearward movement of the attachment when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to end of said bucket means. 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said plate means has a length substantially equal to the width of the forward end of said bucket means. 7

4. In combination with a material handling apparatus having a bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end, i

a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, a support plate means secured to said teeth rear 1 wardly of the forward ends thereof for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship and for removably receiving the forward 'end of said bucket means, a'portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support plate means limiting the rearward move ment of the attachment when vsaid connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support plate means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support plate means having a length substantially equal to the width of the forward end of said bucket means. 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said connection means comprises at least one chain means secured at one end .of said teeth at the rearward ends thereof, a chain tightening means connected to the other end of said chain means adapted to be secured to said bucket means adjacent the upper end of said back wall so that said chain means is closely positioned the rearward side of said back wall, said chain tightening means adapted to limit the movement of the rearward ends of said teeth by drawing the rearward ends of said teeth upwardly into operative engagement with said bucket means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said connection means has adjustment means to permit the connection means to compensate for relative wear of the attachment and bucket means. 

1. In combination with a material handling apparatus having a bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end, a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said teeth for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship, a support means secured to said teeth rearwardly of the forward ends thereof and having means thereon adapted to removably receive the forward end of said bucket means, a portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support means limiting the rearward movement of the attachment when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means comprising an elongated plate means secured to said teeth and having a rearwardly extending plate portion disposed above said teeth defining an elongated channel, the forward end of said bucket means being received in said channel.
 2. In combination with a material handling apparatus having a bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end, a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said teeth for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship, a support means secured to said teeth rearwardly of the forward ends thereof and having means thereon adapted to removably receive the forward end of said bucket means, a portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support means limiting the rearward movement of the attachment when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support means comprising an elongated plate means secured to said teeth and having a first plate portion extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and a second plate portion extending rearwardly from the upper end of said first plate portion, said first and second plate portions defining a channel between said plate portions and said teeth which receives the forward end of said bucket means.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said plate means has a Length substantially equal to the width of the forward end of said bucket means.
 4. In combination with a material handling apparatus having a bucket means at the forward end thereof, said bucket means having rearward and forward end, a bottom wall, and a back wall having an upper end, a fork attachment for the bucket means comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, means secured to said elongated teeth having forward and rearward ends, a support plate means secured to said teeth rearwardly of the forward ends thereof for maintaining said teeth in said spaced apart relationship and for removably receiving the forward end of said bucket means, a portion of said teeth extending beneath the bottom wall of the bucket means when the attachment is mounted on the bucket means, and connection means selectively connecting said teeth adjacent the rearward end thereof to the bucket means adjacent the rearward end thereof, said support plate means limiting the rearward movement of the attachment when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support plate means also limiting vertical movement of said attachment with respect to said bucket means when said connection means is selectively connected to said bucket means, said support plate means having a length substantially equal to the width of the forward end of said bucket means.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said connection means comprises at least one chain means secured at one end of said teeth at the rearward ends thereof, a chain tightening means connected to the other end of said chain means adapted to be secured to said bucket means adjacent the upper end of said back wall so that said chain means is closely positioned the rearward side of said back wall, said chain tightening means adapted to limit the movement of the rearward ends of said teeth by drawing the rearward ends of said teeth upwardly into operative engagement with said bucket means.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said connection means has adjustment means to permit the connection means to compensate for relative wear of the attachment and bucket means. 